Education Matters

By Michael Leadbeatter, Dean of Technological and Applied Studies

The Technological and Applied Studies Department at Trinity Grammar School has had another busy year. I would like to recognise the great work of our students – we are so proud of their unique achievements. I’d also like to thank our staff members who have dedicated themselves to ensuring Technological and Applied Studies students get the best possible opportunities. They have spent many hours undertaking professional development, making sure they keep up-to-date with the latest technological and educational practices.

Topics: Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Arts, Technology, Vocational training, Creative arts

With Literacy and Numeracy Week just around the corner (4 to 10 September 2017) we look at Trinity Grammar School’s Arthur Holt Library and how it inspires lifelong learning and a love of reading. Delivering collections and innovative programmes that celebrate text, promote literacy, and support teaching and learning, the cutting-edge Library has a three-pronged approach to enriching the student experience.

Topics: Literacy, Boys' education, Trinity difference, Reading, Academic excellence, Pastoral care, Improve learning, Libraries, Boys learning, Boys and literacy, Education

Year 12 student Nicholas Capovilla from Trinity Grammar School, was announced the winner of the School-Based Trainee of the Year for the Southern and South-Western Sydney region at the NSW Training Awards which took place at the Liverpool Catholic Club in June 2017.

The award recognises Nicholas’ excellence in the training sector, along with his commitment and innovative approach to formal studies at school and in the workplace. This is an outstanding achievement in the hotly contested Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, and has proven valuable for Nicholas in gaining industry skills and high levels of achievement in the construction industry.

Topics: Boys' education, All boys education, Academic excellence, Courses, Vocational training

Trinity Grammar School recently hosted a joint Old Trinitarians’ Union (OTU) and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Careers and Industry Expo at the Summer Hill campus. The event was designed to provide Years 10 to 12 students with an academic and vocational focus in creating future pathways, planning transition pathways, exploring career futures, strengthening student outcomes through vocational learning and building networks and connections.

Topics: Boys' education, All boys education, Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Boys learning, Education, Courses, Vocational training

Most parents can relate to the challenges that homework can present for children. It can require great powers of persuasion to encourage your son to sit down and focus on the task at hand. Wouldn’t it be great if there were ways and means to get your son to stop dreading homework?

Here are our helpful tips on how to make homework fun in five simple ways:

Topics: Parenting tips, Boys' education, Homework, Trinity difference, Raising boys, Adolescence, Academic excellence, Improve learning, Boys learning, Study tips, Education

Born in Italy in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci had a curious mind and keen intellect – he studied the laws of science and nature, which greatly influenced his work as a painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer and draftsman. His ideas and body of work influenced countless great minds.

The da Vinci Decathlon facilitated by Knox Grammar School is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students in Years 5 to 11, through a challenging competition emphasising higher order thinking skills, problem solving and creativity.

Topics: Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Co-curricular activities, Education

Goal setting is a powerful skill that we should be actively teaching our children. It is a skill that will help them with self-control, self-efficacy and the confidence to achieve their dreams.

Midyear resolutions are a fabulous way to reboot and re-energise your mind, body and spirit. By reassessing the things that are important, your children will have new found motivation to take them through to the end of the year.   

Topics: Parenting tips, Boys' education, All boys education, Fathering, Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Improve learning, Boys learning, Study tips, Education, International Baccalaureate, Mental health

NAPLAN (National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy) is an annual school assessment for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 designed to provide information to schools and parents about how students are tracking against educational benchmarks in literacy and numeracy, and how these results track over time. NAPLAN is designed as a diagnostic tool, taking a snapshot of a moment in time, however there has been a tendency to portray it as a high-stakes examination, putting undue pressure on students, parents and in fact, teachers.

Topics: Literacy, Parenting tips, Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Education, Teachers, Students

Trinity Grammar School Mathematics Club recently hosted a Mathematics Discovery Evening for students and parents wanting to learn about the real world application of mathematics, and career options in the field.

Topics: Boys' education, All boys education, Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Co-curricular activities, Boys learning, Education

Evidence suggests that our high potential learners, including gifted students, are not being sufficiently challenged in school. As Professor John Hattie, Chair of the Board of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership stated: “It’s an unfortunate phenomenon that’s called ‘coasting’ and it’s reflected in the flattening of the achievement profile of Australian students at the top end, as indicated by multiple surveys from the OECD.” In fact, national and international research and assessment shows that the top 40 percent of Australian learners are underperforming.

Topics: Boys' education, Trinity difference, Academic excellence, Improve learning, Boys learning, Education